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Achieving sustainable HVAC/R through intelligent solutions, energy efficiency and

low GWPrefrigerants

Refrigerant options now and in the futureA white paper on the global trends within refrigerants in air conditioning and refrigeration seen from a Danfoss perspective. Update December 2017.

We will enable our customers to achieve these refrigerant goals while continuing to enhance the energy efficiency of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment.

Danfoss will proactively develop products for low-GWP refrigerants, both natural and synthetic, to fulfil customers’ needs for practical and safe solutions without compromising energy efficiency.

Danfoss will lead and be recognized in the development of natural refrigerant solutions. Danfoss will develop and support products for low GWP synthetic refrigerants, particularly for those applications where natural refrigerant solutions are not yet practical or economically feasible.

Danfoss encourages the further development and use of low GWP refrigerants to help slow, and ultimately reverse, the process of global warming while helping to ensure continued global well-being and economic development along with the future viability of our industry.

Policy Statement

2 Refrigerant options now and in the future

Table of Contents

Policy Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Why Sustainability is the Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Regulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

The Outlook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Refrigerant Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Paving the way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Annex 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Legislation and regulation

Annex 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Impact of direct leakage as a function of the leakage rate

Policy Statement

3Refrigerant options now and in the future White paper

Executive Summary Danfoss, world leader in the supply of compressors and controls, has one of the most extensive and complete product ranges in the HVAC/R industry. Our products are found in numerous business areas, such as food retail, commercial and industrial refrigeration, and air conditioning, products for wholesale refrigeration, and automation in various specific industrial sectors. More than eighty years of experience has put Danfoss at the forefront in developing products using refrigerants and evaluating the viability of new refrigerants as they are introduced. This paper contains a summarized look at our experience and knowledge, describing the background, trends, and drivers that frame the scenarios for present and future refrigerant selection.

The history of refrigerants is a long and cyclical story. We predict that vapor compression systems will remain the primary technology for the foreseeable future and anticipate that refrigerant consumption will increase dramatically with the growing demand from emerging economies. Pairing systems and technologies with the most suitable refrigerant is a decision that will impact users for years to come. Most experts point to safety, affordability, and environmental friendliness as the most important factors to consider when building a system. The balance of these factors is rarely found by only targeting one refrigerant.

Selecting new alternatives implies investments, costs, and burdens, but we believe that if these selections are made correctly, and with an innovative approach, they can open doors to new opportunities. By developing new safe technologies and procedures for handling systems, we know that we will continue to move towards much lower GWP refrigerants than are currently in use today. We foresee a decade of complex development but the global agreement on an orderly phase-down of high GWP refrigerants has finally made sure we are heading in the right direction.


Figure 1: The historical cycle of refrigerants

History

Nearly two hundred years have passed since Jacob Perkins patented the vapor compression cycle, which began the history of refrigerants. The vapor compression cycle uses the refrigerant to transport heat from the cold side to the hot side of a refrigeration system, heat pump, or air conditioning system. We use the same thermodynamic cycle today, though the refrigerants have changed.

Figure 1 shows the development of refrigerants since 1835. In the beginning, all refrigerants were easily obtainable as they existed in nature or were already used in industrial processes. By the 1930s, it became obvious that there were critical safety issues involving many of these early refrigerants, including cases of fires and poisonings caused by refrigerant leaks. It was at this time that synthetic safety refrigerants called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were invented and began to be used on a global scale. Development of synthetic refrigerants continued in the 1950s, when partially chlorinated refrigerants (hydrochlorofluorocarbons or HCFC) were introduced, including R22.

In the early 1970s, it was discovered that CFC and HCFC refrigerants caused a breakdown of the ozone layer. CFCs have a particularly high Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) and while HCFCs are comparatively lower in ODP’, they still wreaked havoc. As a consequence, the Montreal Protocol—the global phase-down mechanism on substances that deplete the ozone layer—was established and has since been regarded as a global success on reducing dangerous chemicals. In addition to reducing the ODP load in the atmosphere, the reduction of CFC emissions has also considerably decreased the global warming impact. Substitute refrigerants, called hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), have an ODP of zero, but medium to high Global Warming Potential (GWP) though still lower than phased-out CFCs. Due to the growing threat of climate change, usage of HFCs has been scrutinized in an attempt to reduce their impact on the environment. Scientific investigations show that while the impact of HFC leaks may not currently be a major contributing factor to global warming, their growing consumption, especially within air conditioning units in developing countries, will eventually make HFCs a top global warming contributor if phasedown measures were not introduced. In October 2016, the parties of the Montreal Protocol agreed on a phasedown for HFCs. That plan is scheduled to go into effect in 2019 and should create more certainty in the quest to reduce the use of these high GWP gasses.

In summary, if we do not practice environmental stewardship, refrigerants may cause severe, long-term environmental consequences. History has been a learning curve away from the flammable and toxic refrigerants towards safe solutions, but ones that were environmentally destructive, making them only short-term solutions. Technological developments, together with recognized safety standards, have finally made it possible to begin moving towards real long-term solutions with zero ODP, low GWP refrigerants.

NATU

RALSHFC

HCFC CFC

NATURALS + HFO

2019Montreal Protocol

on HCFC

2015 EU HFC

phase-down

1995Global warming

becomes an issue

1987 Montreal Protocol on CFC and HCFC

1930-50 Invention of safe refrigerants

1834 Invention of the vapor compression process. Natural refrigerants

Growing need for safe refrigerants

1970Discovery of the ozone

depletion process

Sustainable Technologies:

• Environmentally benign

• Safe in use• Affordable


Investment Cost

Life Cycle Cost

TREND

Viabilitylevel

Market readiness

Technical ability

Standards &Legislation

Risk awareness

Complexity

1. Investment cost Investments in Product development2. Life cycle cost Life cycle cost for the consumer. Contains up front cost and running cost3. Complexity Complexity associated with manufacturing and marketing of the product4. Risk Awareness Difference between perceived and actual risk using the product5. Market Readiness Market competence in save adoption of new technologies and products6. Technical Ability Ability and competence in developing new products7. Standard & Legislation S&L includes bans taxes and voluntary agreements.

Figure 2: Refrigerant Sustainability Triangle

Figure 3: The Seven Forces model

Affordability

LLCC*

Service**

Flammability

* Lowest Life Cycle Cost** Ensure COP and Low Leakage

Toxicity

Safe

ty

Energy efficiency

GWPEnvironment

Sustainability is the Key

Sustainable solutions are in the best interests of all stakeholders in our industry. Sustainability safeguards long-term investments and ensures compliance with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Looking back, it is clear that the refrigerant choices made in the past were not sustainable. Regarding long-term sustainable refrigerants, Danfoss considers three main parameters that must be aligned to accomplish a real sustainable balance: affordability, safety and environmental friendliness.

When choosing a new refrigerant for an application, all three parameters need to be considered together. If not, it will be impossible to achieve long-term, sustainable results. It is important to look at the underlying parameters such as lowest life cycle cost, service availability, operational efficiency and safety, and the GWP of the refrigerant. A sustainable solution will be achieved only when all of these parameters are balanced. Achieving this balance will require a thorough evaluation factors which influence these parameters as shown in figure 2.

While we can engineer a sustainable solution, there are more factors that will determine if new refrigerant solutions are viable. In order to quantify the industrial viability of developing new sustainable solutions for new refrigerants, Danfoss has developed a model that breaks down the main parameters. We call this the 7 Force model, seen in figure 3. The red arrows refer to economic factors and the grey arrows are cultural factors such as knowledge, education, and legislation. When the balance between the red and grey forces reaches the viability level, it becomes much more likely that the industry will start investing in new solutions and technologies. When investing in new technologies and building up competencies, legislation and derived standardization are the major drivers.

Over the past ten years, the viability level has been increasing for many low GWP refrigerants. Good examples are CO2 applications for commercial refrigeration, especially supermarkets.


Figure 2: Refrigerant Sustainability Triangle

Figure 4: Refrigerant phase-down (MP and EU) and the underlying measuresSee more details in Annex A.

60

20

2010 2020 2030 2040 20500

40

100

120

80

EU F-gas reg.

Non A5-1

Non A5-2

A5-1

A5-2

Market CAPS on Consumption

Market Low GWP solutions

• GWP limits on applications• Demands on operation and service• TAX and Incentives

• Safety• Energy e�ciency• A�ordability

%

of b

asel

ine

HFC consumption phase-down for art.5 and non-art 5 countries

Regulation

Regulation, both national and international, has been one of the most important drivers for spurring investment in new technology. Figure 4 charts an overview of HFC phase-downs that have already been imposed on the industry—see also the section on standards and legislation later in this paper. The measures for reducing HFC consumption can be voluntary or imposed by regulation (the red triangle), but they all mean to place limits within the market. Specific guidance measures on market development—like GWP limits for certain applications—cause an underlying concern of the availability of sustainable solutions (the green triangle). When new regulations are made, they are intended to encompass and balance the guidance measures and concerns, and predict reasonably successful outcomes but, after all, there are always a number of challenges that need to be solved by industry leaders and legislators along the path of change. In Annex 1, a detailed overview is made for the main regulations including the Montreal protocol, the EU F-gas regulation, and the US SNAP.

HCFCs, particularly R22, have already been phased out in the EU and the phase-out is close to being finalized in the US and other developed countries. Developing countries began phasing out HCFCs in 2015 and will continue until 2030. It is important to remember that the HCFC R22 is used in many different applications, which makes the phase-out a challenge as no single non-flammable low-GWP refrigerant can replace it (Annex 1 table 2 shows the HCFC phase-down steps).

In October 2016, the HFC phase-down steps were agreed upon and became part of the Montreal Protocol, which go into effect on January 1, 2019, pending ratification by 20 states, which at the moment appears to be a formality. If ratified after that date, the amendment will enter into effect 90 days afterwards (see Annex 1 table 3 for the HFC phasedown steps).

Besides the phase-down and phase-out mechanisms discussed above, many governments are applying measures for reducing high GWP refrigerant consumption, such as GWP weighted taxes. Spain, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden have imposed taxes on HFCs. Additionally, national incentives in the form of subsidies on low-GWP refrigerants are currently being used in many other countries.

Annex 1 is an overview of the phase-outs and phase-downs that have already been imposed on the industry in some of the main markets.


Montreal Protocol agreement on HFC phase down in 2016 starting in 2019National tax schemes on HFCNational incentives and subsidiesNational research and demonstration support for low GWP refrigerants

Worldwide:

HFC phase-down starting in 2015 ending with 79% cut down in 2030

SNAP delisting of R134a, R404A, R507 in speci�c applications (under court decision). California is in process of establishing HFC phase-down

Figure 5: Global overview of refrigerant regulations

The OutlookOur sustainability triangle (figure 2) shows that the environment plays an important role when developing and using refrigerants. Both system manufacturers and users want long-term solutions that are environmentally benign, safe, and affordable. Looking at various alternatives, everything points to lower GWP solutions. Natural refrigerants have a low GWP and are efficient, and we expect them to become the preferred choice whenever possible, though safety will still be an important factor in regulating the usage of natural and some HFC / HFO refrigerants. The trend shows a growing acceptance of mildly flammable, A2L refrigerants, especially now that they have been incorporated into the new ISO and IEC standards. We also see highly flammable, A3 refrigerants increasingly being used in smaller systems. In the context of being able to handle flammable refrigerants, two important initiatives were launched in 2015 by the United Nations: the Global Refrigerant Management Initiative (GRMI) and the Refrigerant Driving License (RDL). Both initiatives aim to develop the service sector to encourage competent and safe servicing and installations. These initiatives address the main barriers that currently inhibit the mass introduction of low-GWP refrigerants and as such become important in the global phase-down of HFCs.


* Ammonia/CO2 cascades will dominate industrial refrigeration

Table 1: Global trends in refrigeration and air conditioning (Status in 2017)

Main refrigerant Regular use Limited use and only niche applications Not applicable or unclear situation

Our international group of experts within Danfoss has projected what we see as the likely refrigerant outlook. This outlook is summarized in the Table 1 below. CO2 is widely used industrial refrigeration and commercial refrigeration racks and we believe that this trend, which started in Europe, will extend to the rest of the world. We foresee ammonia continuing to be a very well accepted, particularly in industrial refrigeration applications, though its toxicity means requires unique safety measures. We expect that a solution using both CO2 and ammonia will be mainly used at some point in the future. We see the very energy-efficient hydrocarbons playing an important role in low-charge systems around the globe. We believe that HFCs will not disappear, but will be limited to those with the lowest GWP and will be combined with HFOs as is already happening. HFC and HFO are now moving towards more environmentally friendly, but often mildly flammable, versions, making safety precautions all the more important. The demand for low-GWP refrigerants will continue to challenge our current perception of which refrigerants can be used in certain applications, but will also drive innovations in system design.

Air Conditioning Heat Pumps

Residential A/C(including Reversible systems)

Commercial A/C Residential and Commercial Heat Pumps

Industrial Heat Pumps

1.000 - 20.000 > 20.0002017 2022 2027 2017 2022 2027 2017 2022 2027 2017 2022 2027

Refrigeration

Application Domestic-Household refigeration

Light Commercial refrigeration

Commercial Racks and CondensingUnits

Industrial Refrigeration

Watt 50 - 300 150 -5000 > 5.000 > 1.000.000

Refrigerant Region/Year 2017 2022 2027 2017 2022 2027 2017 2022 2027 2017 2022 2027

CO2NAM

*Europe

China*

ROW

NH3 (2L) NAM*

Europe

China*

ROW

HC NAM

Europe

China

ROW

HFC NAM

Europe

China

ROW

HFC/HFObelowGWP700

NAM

Europe

China

ROW


Refrigerant OptionsFacing the regulatory pressures to eliminate high GWP refrigerants, many alternatives are being proposed to replace HFCs. To date, the focus has been on new unsaturated fluoro-chemicals, also known as hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs), especially R1234yf, R1234ze, and R1233zd. They have very low GWP levels, are only mildly flammable - except R1233zd, and belong to a group of low density refrigerants. To lower the GWP of higher density HFCs, HFOs are mixed in HFC. As seen in Figures 7a and 7b, the proposed blends are similar to each other, with the main differences being based on which R1234 type is used and the exact refrigerant it is replacing.

However, there is a trade-off between a lower GWP and flammability – see Figure 6. As seen in Figures 7a and 7b, most of the current refrigerants have no simple low GWP drop-in solutions: flammability is linked to GWP and refrigerant capacity. The lower the GWP and higher the capacity comes with increased flammability.

GWP

> 4,000

< 2,500

< 1,500

< 700

< 150

R123 like R134a like R404A | R22 like R410A alike Others

R12336mzz

R1233zdR514A

R1270 R454C R744/CO2

R444B R452B

No LGWP option.Must move to low density

R454A

R32

R448A

R449AR134a

R450AR513A

R515

R407A/R407F

R22 R410A

Flammability lineR452A

A1 - Non- flammable

Legend

A2L - Mildly flammableA3 - Highly flammable

B2L - Toxic less flammableOld reference refrigerantNew and on the market

Not yet on the market

R404A

R600a R455A

R1234ze R290 R717/NH3

Density

R454B

A/C & ref Ref A/C

Main refrigerants in play

Figure 6: Carbon Chain Based Refrigerants (HCs, HFCs, HCFCs), GWP versus Density (pressure) of the main refrigerant groups


There are application pros and cons for using specific refrigerants and some considerations relating to product strategy. How do the energy-efficiency improvement schemes match? Is it intended for a fast drop-in or is it part of a major redesign cycle? What are the climate conditions and will the local markets be ready to handle the refrigerant? What is the impact of glide in a service perspective? Will it make sense to go for one type refrigerant or will a dual strategy be better? The latest trade fairs show that A2L refrigerants are ready, efficient, and available and components are currently or will soon be available. For R1234ze some special conditions apply. R1234ze is categorized as an A2L refrigerant but actually only flammable above 30 °C. This is why the EN 378 (2014/68/EU), which is harmonized with the EU PED Directive, does not recognize R1234ze as a hazardous substance, but as a PED group 2 fluid. This has the positive effect that it avoids material traceability for pipes and components until 100 mm in normative diameter while the other flammable refrigerants need traceability at 25 mm.

Figures 7a and 7b: The main replacement options and their composition and GWP levels

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0

GW

P

R513

AR4

50A

R123

4yf

R123

4ze

R448

AR4

49A

R452

AR4

44B

R454

CR4

55A

R454

BR4

52B

R32

A1

A2L

R134asubs.

R404A,R407 series.

R410A,subs.

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

R513A

R450A

R1234yf

R1234ze

R448AR449A

R455AR454B

R452BR32

R454C

R444B

R452A

R744

R32

R152a

R125

R134a

R1234ze

R1234yf% co

mpo

siti

on

Main replacement options: composition and GWP levels


ISO5149 being implemented

GB9237 corresponding to ISO5149

Lower Toxicity Higher Toxicity

No � ame Propagation

A1: CFC, HCFC, most HFCs B1: Seldom used

Lower Flammability

A2L: Most HFOs, R32 B2L: Ammonia

Flammable A2: R152 B2: Seldom used

HigherFlammability

A3: Hydrocarbons B3: no refrigerants

Increasing Toxicity

Incr

easi

ng F

lam

mab

ility

Figure 8: Global overview of Standards

Figure 9: Refrigerant classes

Paving the way– Standardization and risk assessment

All refrigerants can be safe if standards and safe handling guidelines are followed. Standards ensure common practices, technological alignment, and legal conformity. This last point being important from the industry’s point of view since it reduces risk and provides legal assurance when new products are developed. Danfoss participates in the standardization task-forces that contribute to the development of important safety standards such as ISO 5149, EN378, and ASHRAE 15.

In figure 9 below and according to ASHRAE 34, refrigerants are divided into classes depending on toxicity and flammability. A1 refrigerants are nonflammable and have very low toxicity. On the other end of the scale, with high flammability and high toxicity, no B3 refrigerants are available. Hydrocarbons, characterized by low toxicity and high flammability, require special precautions.Ammonia, on the other hand, is a highly toxic and has low flammability. It is widely used, especially in industrial refrigeration, and is very efficient.

The A2L subgroup is made up of refrigerants with a low flammability. Flame propagation speed is low, less than 10 cm/s. These refrigerants are expected to play a significant role in the future as we move away from the old high GWP HFCs.


Figure 12: Timely – Safety Standards Development. Recognising the need for flammable refrigerants.

App

licat

ion

stan

dard

sRe

frig

eran

tst

anda

rds

ASHRAE 34

ASHRAE 15

ISO 5149

EN378

ISO 817

Figure 10: Refrigeration and Application Standards Figure 11: Perceived and Actual Risk

Figure 10 shows how refrigerant standards are connected with safety standards. For example, ASHRAE 34was used in ISO 817 to create the refrigeration classifications. These classifications are in turn used in safety standards like ISO 5149, ASHRAE 15, and the European safety standard EN 378.

When evaluating refrigerants, risk awareness is always a crucial parameter. Ask yourself, “What level of risk is acceptable?” Before answering, keep in mind the difference between perceived and actual risk. Perceived risk of the new refrigerant tends to be seen as higher than the actual risk. As industry competence and user experience increase, we will see a reduction in the perceived risk of using a refrigerant. Compare this to the perceived risk of flying versus driving a car: driving a car is often perceived as being safer than air travel, while the opposite is actually true.

The development of standards is moving towards a wider acceptance of flammable refrigerants. Figure 12 presents an overview of the development of the main standards and the inclusion of flammable refrigerants.

Perceived Risk

User experience “New” refrigerants

Mature refrigerants Industry competence

Logic lineA

ctua

l Ris

k

International for large systems

International and Regional

standards

Selected National

standards

ISO5149 does not support flammable refrigerants

ISO 5149 supports flammable refrigerants (A3, A2L)

ASHRAE 15 has very limited support for flammable refrigerants

EN 378 supports flammable refrigerants Aligned with ISO 5149 on 2L flammability

Full A3 Support

Full support of 2L flammability

A3 refr. up to 0.5 kg

Support A2L but not A3

Support A2L but not A3

copies the new ISO5149 with full support of flammables

Chinese national standard for A/C & HP supports flammable refrigerants, but no special support of 2L

UL 60335-2-40 does not support flammable refrigerants

IEC 60335-2-40 supports some flammable refrigerants

Chinese national standard GB9237 does not support flammable refrigerants

IEC 60335-2-89 supports some flammable refrigerants

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

No flammables

EU for large systems

International for A/C and Heat Pumps

International for small com. Refrigeration

US large systems

US for A/C and HP

China for large systems

China for A/C and Heat Pumps


Propose scenarios based onapplication experience

Advice and get acceptancefrom insurance company

Top Management approval

Product Managerdeployment

Establish knowledge onStandards & Legislation

Perform process of risk assessment & concludeon probability of scenarios

Make Standard for framing product activitieswith �ammable refrigerants

Figure 13: Danfoss’ approval process

ConclusionsRefrigerants are a necessity in today’s world and they will have a great impact on the world to come. While some of yesterday’s solutions have had consequences for today’s environment, it is imperative that the industry looks ahead to find future-proof solutions to current challenges. Doing so effectively will require a solid working partnership with a company that not only possesses a dynamic history and a comprehensive knowledge of the current standards, legislations, and emerging technologies, but also maintains an eye on the future in terms of safety and environmental responsibility. Danfoss is just such a company.

With over eighty years of experience, combined with our willingness to meet the challenges of the future, we are an industry leader that is poised to offer our partners reliable solutions. Danfoss is ready to work with you in defining and implementing the best alternative for your applications. Together we can conquer today’s challenges while addressing the needs of tomorrow.

Before shifting to a new refrigerant with a higher flammability, a comprehensive process should be followed. For more than a decade, Danfoss has been developing products to be used with hydrocarbons. By performing risk assessments, we are able to predict the likelihood of hypothetical failures, the results of which are used to develop internal standards to regulate products that use flammable refrigerants. We then consult with insurance providers and obtain approval for the new refrigerant. Finally, upper management approves the refrigerant and the results are implemented by the relevant product manager. As a result of continuously developing refrigerant failure scenarios, we have adjusted our internal standards on flammable refrigerants to reflect the actual risk of using them. Today, we offer a comprehensive program of controls for flammable refrigerants on a global scale.


Table 2: HCFC phase out schedule and baselinesSource: UNEP

Table 3: HFC phase down schedule and baselinesSource: UNEP

Annex C – Group I: HCFCs (consumption)

Non A5-1 Non A5-2 A5-1 A5-2

Freeze – – 2024(100%) 2028(100%)

Step 1 2019 – 90% 2020 –95% 2029 – 90% 2032 – 90%

Step 2 2024 – 55% 2025 – 65% 2035 – 70% 2037 – 80%

Step 3 2029 – 30% 2029 – 30% 2040 – 50% 2042 – 30%

Step 4 2034 – 20% 2034 –20% – –

Final 2036 –15% 2026 –15% 2045 – 20% 2047 – 15%

Countries All non A5 except non A5-2 and the EU

Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

All A5 expect A5-2 India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi, Arabia, UAE

Baseline HFC-avarage (2011–2013) + 15% of HCFC baseline (non-A5)

HCFC-average (2011–2013) 25% of HCFC bzaseline (non-A5)

HCFC-average (2020–2022) 65% of HCFC bzaseline (A5)

HCFC-average (2024–2026) + 65% of HCFC bzaseline (A5)

Comments HCFC phase out plan does not correspond to the 15% in 2011 - but likely reflects actual consumption

HCFC phase out plan corresponds to the 25% in 2010 – 2014



Non-Article 5(1) Parties: Consumption (Developed Countries)

Article 5(1) Parties: Consumption (Developing Countries)

Base level:1989 HCFC consumption + 2.8 per cent of 1989 CFC consumption

Base level: Average 2009–10

Freeze: 1996 Freeze: January 1, 2013

35 % reduction January 1, 2004 10 % reduction January 1, 2015

75 % reduction January 1, 2010 35 % reduction January 1, 2020

90 % reduction January 1, 2015 67.5 % reduction January 1, 2025

100 % reduction

January 1, 2020, Allowance of 0.5% of base level consumption untill January 1, 2030 for servicing of refrigeration and air- conditioning equipment existing on 1 January 2020.

100 % reduction

January 1, 2030, Allowance of 2.5% of base level consumption when averaged over ten year 2030-40 untill January 1, 2040 for servicing of refrigeration and air- conditioning equipment existing on 1 January 2030.

Montreal Protocol

With the 2016 inclusion of a global HFC phase down the Montreal Protocol now has two regimes to control; the ODP and the GWP substances. The phase out schedule for the HCFC can be seen in table 2 and the phase down schedules for HFC can be seen in table 3. It is worth noticing that the non-A5 countries rely on baselines that are frozen already while the A5 countries has a combination of the HCFC quota (already frozen) and a HFC consumption which has yet to come. This has triggered some speculation on the incentives for A5 counties to have an early move to low GWP refrigerants as this would decrease their baseline.

Annex 1. Legislation and regulation


F-Gas Regulation (EU)

The F-gas regulation was implemented at January 1, 2015. The regulation put in place an HFC phase-down from 2015 to 2030 by means of a quota system and sectorial bans on high GWP refrigerants. R404A/R507 is especially under pressure and likely to be phased out of all commercial systems. An EU quota allocation mechanism have been made and the first phase-down step was accomplished in 2016 with quotas reduced by 7% compared to baseline. The quota system mechanism assigns quotas to producers and importers of bulk gases. Quota holders can transfer part of their quota via authorizations to importers of pre charged units. Authorizations can again be delegated but only ones. All operations must be reported in the central registry to ensure compliance with the regulation. For more detailed descriptions and Q&A documents please refer to the EU homepage or to the EPEE homepage.

The import of pre-charged units and the need for retrofit of R22 systems with HFC replacements are not taken into account in the baseline for the phase down. The import of pre-charged units is estimated to at 11% to the official baseline. As the amount of HFC import in pre-charged units will be accounted in the official quota from 2017 it is believed that it will create extra pressure on the availability of HFC.

By adding the pre-charged units demand into the phase down steps and assuming a constant consumption in metric tons over the years a different scenario become evident. By 2018 the quota falls to 56 percent of the baseline compared to previous 63 %. The 2030 target of 21 % of baseline becomes in reality around 19 %. The calculations can be seen in figure 14.

MAC Directive (EU)

This directive bans the use of any refrigerant with a GWP above 150 in air conditioning systems in motor vehicles starting from:

• January 2011 for new models of existing vehicles • January 2017 for all new vehicles

The directive does not cover other applications.

R134a, still the globally most common refrigerant in MACs, has a GWP of 1430 and is thus affected by the ban as well. R1234yf is increasingly being introduced and today several millions of cars are using this HFO in the US and the EU.

After 2011, the deadline was extended that deadline until January 1, 2013, and since then there has been attempts to extend the deadline even further, a discussion that is still on-going.


Alternative phase down Initial phase down in% of metric tons

Figure 14: The EU phase down depending on inclusion of pre-charged units or not.

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 20302021 2022 2023 2024

YearOriginal

phase down

schedule2015 100%2016 94%2017 83%2018 56%2019 56%2020 56%2021 40%2022 40%2023 40%2024 28%2025 28%2026 28%2027 21%2028 21%2029 21%2030 19%

Original phase down schedule excluding

imported pre-charged units

Alternative recalculated phase

down schedule including imported pre-charged units

Figure 15: The sectorial contribution to the EU HFC phase downSource Danfoss from EPEE Gapometer Project

Sectorreductions

0

200

50

150

250

Baseline

Mobile A/C & non Ref_A/C

Quota

2018 2021Mill

ion

TOns

CO

2 eq.

of H

FC p

lace

d on

mar

ket

The expected composition of the phase down until 2021 is outlined in figure 15. It is obvious that the Refrigeration sector will be the main contributor to the phase down while AC and HP will gain more contribution later.

100

Refrigeration

A/C and Heat Pumps


Single split A/C systems containing less than 3kg of HFC, GWP ≥750. Bans R134a, R407C and R410A. Seems very feasible for A2L refrigerants.

Domestic refrigerators and freezers, GWP ≥150. Bans R134a. Natural refrigerants like R600a will be used.

Servicing equipment using new refrigerants with GWP ≥ 2500 for temperatures ≥ -50˚C and charge ≥ 40 tonnes CO2eq. Except for military equipment. Bans servicing of 404A/507 equipment with 10,2kg or more charge using new 404A/507. Recycled refrigerant is still allowed.

Commercial refrigerators and Freezers, hermetically sealed, GWP ≥150. Bans R134a. Natural refrigerants will be main used refrigerants. HFO solutions can be used.

Movable room A/C, hermetically sealed, GWP ≥150. Bans traditional HFCs. Below 150g natural refrigerants will be used.

Commercial refrigerators and Freezers, hermetically sealed, GWP ≥2500. Bans R404A/507. Natural refrigerants will be main used refrigerants.

Stationary refrigeration equipment for temperatures above -50°C, GWP ≥2500. Bans R404A/507. Natural refrigerants and also new HFC will increase. Many types of solutions.

Multipack centralised refrigeration systems for commercial use with a capacity ≥ 40kW, GWP ≥150 and ≥1500 for primary circulation of cascades. Bans traditional HFC, except R134a in cascades. Also new HFC/HFO blends can play a role.

Figure 16: Bans on new equipment

Servicing equipment using refrigerants with GWP ≥ 2500 for temperatures ≥ -50˚C and charge ≥ 40 tonnes CO2eq. Except for military equipment. Bans servicing of 404A/507 equipment with 10,2kg or more charge.

2015 2020 •• ••• ••• • ••• 2025 2030

Equipment bans

The phase down schedule is complemented with bans on new equipment and bans on servicing equipment with high GWP refrigerants, as shown in figure 16. Although the service bans are far into the future, they are within the expected lifespan of today’s new equipment. This puts pressure on the industry now to stop building R404A/507 systems.

Observations at the end of 2017 show that refrigerant prices have increased by up to 500% for R404A, from March to October 2017. There is a clear linkage between GWP value and the price increase . Furthermore it has been reported that a lot of equipment placed on the market in 2015 and 2016 still relies on a high-GWP HFC. Also bearing in mind the additional quota surge from pre-charged units from 2017, it becomes very difficult to predict how a real supply versus demand picture becomes mature. The only good advice is to make a detailed plan for replacing refrigerants with a high GWP. R410A is the only refrigerant which doesn’t have a A1 class substitute with a lower GWP (see figure 6). Based on that, R410A might be the only current HFC that will be used in the coming years – albeit at a higher price.


SNAP (US)

As a tool for implementation of the ODP phase-out back in 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States developed the Significant New Alternative Policy (SNAP) Program. The original purpose of the SNAP program was promoting a safe and smooth transition away from ozone depleting substances, but it has recently also been used to exclude certain high GWP HFCs. The mechanism is to accept or eventually ban specific refrigerants for usage in specific applications. There are 17 main applications in table 4 (Chillers covers 4).

During 2014 to 2016 exclusion dates of main high GWP HFCs in main application sectors were set, while new low or medium GWP HFC/HFOs and even HCs received acceptance for specific applications. To illustrate the development of synchronized delisting of high GWP refrigerants with the acceptance of lower GWP refrigerants an overview of the main sectors is outlined in table 4. For a full specific and updated list of accepted alternatives and dates of exclusion of present accepted refrigerants it is recommended to consult the SNAP homepage.

The first rule was Rule 17, which allowed four specific hydrocarbons for use in household refrigerators and freezers and retail food refrigeration. These hydrocarbons include up to 57g R600a for the household segment and up to 150g R290 for the retail segment. Since this rule several other applications have been allowed and an overview of the applications affected, with charge limits similar to Rule 17, and additional rules are being proposed.

The Clean Air Act Section 608 extends the requirements for usage of refrigerants. It lowers the leak rate thresholds that trigger the duty to repair ACR equipment:• Lowers from 35% to 30% for industrial process refrigeration• Lowers from 35% to 20% for commercial refrigeration equipment• Lowers from 15% to 10% for comfort cooling equipment

It requires quarterly/annual leak inspections for ACR equipment that have exceeded the threshold leak rate and requires owners/operators to submit reports to EPA if systems containing 50 or more pounds of refrigerant leak 125% or more of their full charge in one calendar year. It further requires technicians to keep a record of refrigerant recovered during system disposal from systems with a charge size from 5–50 lbs.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has gone ahead with an aggressive plan for an early phase-down of HFCs. The outline in the plan is less complex than the SNAP and targets specific maximum GWP levels for specific sectors. For an overview of the proposal at the end of 2017, see table 5 (next page). The planned date for the regulation to become effective is mid-2019.

Note: In August 2017, the US Supreme court ruled against the practice of delisting HFCs. At present this decision has been appealed and the outcome of this is not yet known.


Table 5: Outline of California’s proposal on HFC restrictions

Year System limit for refrigerant containment in new stationary systems GWP limit

2021 Refrigeration systems ≥ 50 pound 150

2021 Refrigeration systems ≥ 20 and ≤ 50 pound 1500

2021 Air-conditioning systems ≥ 2 pound 750

2021 Chillers 150

Sales restriction on refrigerants

2021No production, import, sales, distribution, or entry into commerce

2500

2024 1500

Table 4: US SNAP Regulation* Max GWP future, as currently estimated; subject to change

Application Max GWP present

Max GWP future*

Year of delisting of HFCs above Max

future GWP

Low and medium GWP refrigerants accepted Comments

Chillers (4 categories)

Centrifugal 9810 (R236fa)

630 (R513A)

2024 (New) CO2 , R1234ze, R1233zd, R1336mzz, R513A, R450A

R134a , R404A, accepted for narrow use, Rule 21

Screw, Scroll, Reciproc. 3990 (R507A)

630 (R513A)

Residential and light commercial AC and HP

3990 (R507A)

3990 (R507A) NA R290, R441, R32

R290, R441, R32 only used under specific conditions Rule 19

Industrial Process Air Conditioning

3990 (R507A)

3990 (R507A) NA R513A, R450A, NH3, CO2 ,

R1336 mzzIndustrial Process Refrigeration

3990 (R507A)

3990 (R507A) NA R513, A R450A, NH3, CO2,

R290

Cold Storage Warehouses 3990 (R507A)

1820 (R407F) 2023(New) R513A, R450A, NH3, CO2 Rule 21

Ice Skating Rinks 3990 (R507A)

3990 (R507A) NA NH3, CO2

Commercial Ice Machines 3990 (R507A)

3990 (R507A) NA R290, R450A, R513A,

R448A, R449B R290 only for self-contained units Rule 21

Household refrigeration 3990 (R507A)

630 (R513A) 2021 (New) R513A, R450A, R152A,

R290, R600a, R441

R290 , R600a, R441 Allowed under specific conditions Rule 17 & 19 & 21

Transport Refrigeration 3990 (R507A)

3990 (R507A) NA CO2, R513A, R450A, R448A,

R449A

Vending machines 3990 (R507A)

630 (R513A)

2019 (New)2016 (Retrofit of

R404A and R507A))

CO2, R290, R600a, R441, R513A, R450A

R290 , R600a, R441 Allowed under specific conditions Rule 19 and Rule 20

Retail food refr.

Stand Alone equipment 3990 (R507A)

630 (R513A)

2019-20202016 (Retrofit)

CO2, R290, R600a, R441, R450A, R513A

R290 , R600a, R441 Allowed under specific conditions Rule 20

Refrigerated food processing and dispensing equipment

3990 (R507A)

1510 (R426A) 2021 (New)

R513A, R450A, R448A, R449A, R449B, NH3, CO2

Rule 21

Remote condensing units 3990 (R507A)

630 (R513A)

2018 (New) 2016 (Retrofit) Rule 20

Supermarket systems 3990 (R507A)

630 (R513A)

2017 (New)2016 (Retrofit) Rule 20


Figure 17: The HCFC phase out and the HFC phase down for China

Application Present Short term (-2020) Long term (-2025)

Household refrigeration R22 / R600a R600a R600a

Industrial and Commercial Refrigeration

R22 / R134a / R410A / NH3 R134a , NH3 NH3/CO2, R290, R600a,

Low GWP Blends

Small and medium Chillers R22, R410A R410A,R32 R290, R32

Large Chillers R22, R123, R134a R134a, R1234ze R1234ze, NH3

Unitary AC / VRF / Heat Pumps

R22, R410A, R407C R410A,R32 R32 , Low GWP blends

Room AC R22, R410A R410A,R290 R290, R32

China standard IEC standard

No latest version Corresponding version of IEC No latest version

GB4706.13 2014 2012 IEC60335-2-24 2012

GB4706.32 2012 2005 IEC60335-2-40 2013

GB4706.102 2010 2007 IEC60335-2-89 2015

Table 6: Refrigerant options per application

Table 7: The IEC60335 series versus the Chinese standards

China HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP):

The HFC phase down will follow the Montreal Protocol schemes agreed in October 2016. The total picture of the HCFC phase out and the HFC phase down is seen in figure 16. To fulfil the HCFC phase out plan, the Chinese authorities are supporting projects for replacing HCFCs with alternative refrigerants according to the phase out plan which can be found on the UNEP homepage.

The evaluation of candidates has not just focused on the ozone depletion potential (ODP), but also on GWP, safety and suitability for the application. The recommendations from the Chinese authorities depends on the application and the time perspective, see table 6. Among the recommendations are to use a variety of known low GWP refrigerants. The recommendations are backed by the adoption process of international safety standards like ISO 5149 (GB9237) and the IEC 60335 series – see table 7 for overview. These standards are under review and update as the versions indicate.

120

100

80

60

40

20

2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045

HCFCHFC

2050 2055

0

%of

bas

elin

e

Year


Application Target GWP value (MAX) Target year for full implementation

Room Air Conditioning 750 2018

Commercial Air Conditioning 750 2020

Commercial Refrigeration 1500 2025

Cold Storage 100 2019

Mobile Air Conditioning 150 2023

Table 8: GWP values and timeline

Other local initiatives

A number of countries and regions have already taken steps to promote low-GWP alternatives. Such steps include a cap on the refrigerant charge (Denmark), taxation of high-GWP refrigerants (for instance in Denmark, Norway and Australia), and subsidies for systems that use natural refrigerants (for instance in Germany and the Canadian province of Quebec).

Japan

Japan has in 2014 introduced a comprehensive program to reduce the emission of HFCs. The program is a lifecycle approach to reduce the GWP of the applied HFCs as well as to reduce the leakage of systems in the field (service and recycling) and during end of life. The system does not apply direct bans or specific quota allocation as seen in the US or the EU. Instead it targets specific GWP values for specific applications combined with a labelling program.


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0% 5% 10% 15%

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Leakage rate (%)Leakage rate (%)

0% 5% 10% 15%

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Energy consumption Leakage Recovery/recycling

kg C

O2

TEWI Country A: 250 kg R404A

TEWI Country A: 250 kg CO2

TEWI Country B: 250 kg R404A

TEWI Country B: 250 kg CO2

kg C

O2

kg C

O2

kg C

O2

Figure 18: Relationship between the direct and indirect impacts of the refrigeration system

Example:

The following example can serve to illustrate the relationship between direct and indirect impacts.

Typical refrigerant plant in a medium sized supermarket:

• Store size: 1000 to 1500 m2

• Refrigerant: R404A • Refrigerant charge: 250 kg • Cooling capacity: 100 kW • Energy consumption: 252000 kWh/year • Service life: 10 years • GWP: 3920 • Operating time: 19 hours per day • Recovery/recycling: 90%

CO2 emissions from electricity production Country A (fossil fuels): 0.8 kg CO2 per kWh Country B (hydro and wind power): 0.04 kg CO2 per kWh

Annex 2. Impact of direct leakage as a function of the leakage rate


www.refrigerants.danfoss.com

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Solutions for today and tomorrowIntelligent solutions, combining natural, low GWP refrigerants and high energy efficiency, are the road to sustainable refrigeration and air conditioning. Danfoss takes a proactive approach to further the development and use of low GWP refrigerants to help abate global warming and to ensure the competitiveness of the industry.

Danfoss invests in development of products for low GWP refrigerants, both natural and synthetic to fulfil customers’ needs for practical, safe and energy efficient solutions. Our product portfolio already offers a full programme of control components for CO2, ammonia and hydrocarbons. The Danfoss product range is constantly developed to offer state-of-the-art energy efficiency in every component, from compressors to heat exchangers and everything in between.

Obtaining sustainable solutions is a fine balance between affordability, safety and environmental concerns. Based on our long-standing, sustainable mindset and our dedication to pioneering new technologies, we consciously pursue new developments aimed to he sustainable balance.

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